On Thursday November 1, 2018, detectives assigned to the Portland Police Bureau's Bias Crimes Detail arrested 37-year-old Nathan Scates in connection with an assault and bias crime in Southwest Portland.
Scates was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Assault in the Second Degree, Intimidation in the Second Degree, and Unlawful Use of an Electrical Stun Gun, Tear Gas or Mace in the Second Degree.
The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office is currently reviewing this case. A charging decision is expected later this morning. Scates is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the Justice Center at 2:00 p.m., Courtroom 3.
This investigation began on August 10, 2018, when Central Precinct officers responded to a public dock on the Willamette River near 1510 Southwest Harbor Way. Officers learned that a uniformed security guard (later identified as Scates) confronted several people on the dock. During the course of this event, Scates uttered racial and other slurs and assaulted a female with an Asp baton, injuring the victim's hand.
People at the scene called 9-1-1 and Scates walked away while being followed by the victims and others. Scates deployed pepper spray at two uninvolved people in his attempt to get away from the scene.
The initial victims in this case were a Muslim family, the female assaulted (and her male companion) were of Hispanic descent.
After a lengthy investigation, Scates was identified as the suspect and arrested on several charges.
The Bureau investigates all reports of bias-motivated crimes and encourages any member of our community who is the victim of such a crime to contact law enforcement. Under Oregon law, bias crimes are defined as any criminal act that targets a victim based on the suspect's perception of the victim's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Detectives work to determine whether or not bias elements are present during the reported crime that align with Oregon law as defined in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS):
ORS 166.165 - Intimidation in the First Degree - https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.165
ORS 166.155 - Intimidation in the Second Degree - https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.155
If you have been the victim of a bias crime assault or you are witnessing one, immediately call 9-1-1. If you have been the victim of a different bias crime and the suspect is no longer present, such as vandalism or graffiti, please call the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.
To learn more about bias crime investigations and reported bias/hate crime statistics within the City of Portland, please visit https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/77066
Additionally, the City of Portland is a partner in Portland United Against Hate, which is a community initiated partnership of Community Based Organizations, Neighborhood Associations, concerned communities and the City. To learn more, please visit https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/72583
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